Are brands just for washing powder, supermarkets and sportswear? I don’t think so.
As a Voiceover artist, you get to work with a range of brands, big and small. Your voice and performance are used to convey a brand’s values to the audience. But the relationship between Voiceover Artists and brands doesn’t end there
As a professional VO artist, whether you like it or not, you are running a business in a competitive world.The service you are offering is something you are selling and charging money for. Shouldn’t your customers and potential customers feel good that they are buying from someone who knows what they are doing, projects a professional image and looks like they are legit? YES.If you aren’t projecting the right image to your potential customers they won’t see you in the way you want them to. Is it worth leaving that to chance?
Let me explain a little about what I mean by this. I’m a bit of a brand geek. I even studied brand and identity with Central St Martins a couple of years ago – because its my business to understand brand. And also because I’m into this stuff. For me, I have a specialism in Commercial and Corporate Voiceovers. The people who make and hire for commercial work are phenomenally visually aware, strong and skilled. They are visual superheroes. If I rock up to them, marketing myself with a naff old brand. How are they – of ALL people – going to perceive me? As someone who is a bit clueless visually or as someone who meets them where they are at?
I want, infact need to be seen as a peer..
A good brand does some of the heavy lifting for you in explaining who you are, what you are about and what you do. It’s a kind of pretty shorthand. But it can’t just be nice to look at, if it doesn’t feel like you, or your business or convey your authenticity.I embarked on my rebrand journey last year with Salt and it’s been as fun as I had hoped and it’s also enabled me to see myself and my work in a slightly different way..
Stella and Victoria from Salt said:
“People might be surprised to hear it’s not the identity itself that is important, but the intent behind it. Creating a brand image that is focused on meeting your business goals will do more than present you well, it will bring confidence and certainty to actively move towards it, such as approaching dream clients and unlocking ambition.“
A bit of a revelation since I launched my new brand in June 2021. has been how positively my new brand has effected ME, not just those I work with or prospects.I was well aware that a strong brand identity can increase the profitability of a business, I wasn’t aware that it would give me a new confidence in myself and my work.Working with Stella and Victoria from Salt, we took the thinking I had got from my Central St Martins course and explored it, honed it and then created visuals that really took my breath away.. not just because that swirl is a thing of beauty, but because it spoke OF me, not just TO me.
Stella and Victoria again:
“Image is particularly important for businesses in the creative sector. Finding the courage to completely be yourself is a key part of the branding process for an artist like Clare. The authenticity comes from her clear purpose and consistency; what she promises aligns with how she acts (literally in a VO’s case!)”
I had a Zoom catch up with Stella and Victoria last week about brand and we honestly talked for ages about the virtuous circle of my work and my brand and how they genuinely feed into each other.
In summary – what I have discovered is the virtuous circle of my brand making me feel strong and truly myself, reflecting my work.. which feeds into my work as well – bringing more authenticity to my performances.
If this isn’t something to get yourself geekily excited about, then I don’t know what is.
Let me know what you think
Clare
Clare Reeves is a full time, professional Voiceover Artist who makes waves with words and loves embodying brands
You can check out her brand on her website